Sounding like Otis Redding or Sam Cooke, the 20-something Yorkshireman’s debut song was a heady Northern Soul dancefloor filler that is still on constant repeat since May.

2. Daft Punk – Get Lucky

The song of 2013. Bringing disco back, the French helmeted duo united the guitar shredding of Chic’s Nile Rodgers and honey vocals of Pharrell Williams. Pity album Random Access Memories had no other great tunes.

3. London Grammar – Nightcall

Cool and laid-back, what a joy to hear it again. The trio took the already hip tune by Kavinsky from movie Drive, threw away the 80s electro sound and made it current.

4. Fatboy Slim – Eat, Sleep, Rave, Repeat

Fatboy Slim on the main stage at RockNess (Image: Trevor Martin)

The club tune of the year. Calvin Harris reworked it as a more friendly radio track but the original is as much of a clarion call to party as the Lord Kitchener Wants You poster.

5. Robin Thicke – Blurred Lines

Loved and hated for its misogynistic lyrics, there is no getting away from this track. Whether it was Miley twerking at the MTV awards to it or pub debates, the music behind the words is still fantastic. And Pharrell once again shows up. He had a good year.

6. Drake – Hold On,

We’re Going Home

Effortlessly cool, the success of this track by the Canadian recording artist is shown by the number of other acts who covered it in 2013, including Arctic Monkeys.

7. Duke Dumont – Need U (100%)

This year, dance music returned to the sound of the 90s. This track with vocals by A*M*E led the charge. It also showed how Brit acts were soundtracking the rise of clubbing in America.

8. David Bowie – Where Are We Now?

David Bowie

Simple, heartbreaking and out of nowhere. On January 8, his 66th birthday, Bowie announced a new album, The Next Day, and the release of this single. Once again, Bowie amazed.

9. Arcade Fire – Reflektor

Indie fell further into oblivion this year with no young, cool bands to follow and the descent of dance music into American EDM blandness. It took the Canadian band to mix rock with dance and create a song that also included French. Mais Oui.

10. Bastille – Pompeii

This track by the English four-piece starts like something from the Lion King and evolves into a rock-synth hybrid that The Killers did so well once upon a time. It reached No2 in the UK.